How to Survive as That Villainess - Chapter 8

Chapter 2: I Won’t Hurt You! (1)

The garden was closer than I thought. The garden, connected to the walking path and not far from the main building of the academy, was exactly as I remembered it from my last visit. The flowers were in full bloom, and the trees looked fresh in the morning sunlight. My earlier gloominess vanished, and I felt happy in an instant. Fresh air! Fragrant flowers! And a handsome man by my side! It was an environment where it was impossible to feel bad.

Walking through the garden and looking at the flowers made me feel more relaxed. Smiling, I glanced beside me and saw Aren carefully observing the flowers. Surprisingly, Aren seemed to go very well with the flowers. Wow, he looks better with them than a woman would. After marveling at Aren’s beauty inwardly, I turned my head to look around.

‘Come to think of it, this place…’

This was the place where I first discovered Seria’s true nature after being possessed. Over there, next to the rose vine, Seria was laughing happily. Contrary to the pitiful tears she shed, she was laughing viciously, mocking me. Thinking back, it’s a bit scary. A woman laughing maniacally under the moonlight. I suddenly felt a chill and rubbed my arms.

Aren probably doesn’t know, even in his dreams. What kind of woman Seria is. To deceive the future Tower Master, that’s impressive, Seria.

“Radel.”

While I was inwardly admiring Seria’s acting, Aren called my name and tucked something behind my ear. Still bewildered, I touched the side of my head and felt what seemed to be a flower. Did he just put a flower there…?

“It suits you.”

His bright smile, revealing white teeth, was dazzling, and the gentle hand that placed the flower was delicate. With his warm spring-like demeanor, I wondered if anyone could resist him. Even if I were a man, seeing his smile would instantly captivate me.

It’s so bright, my eyes!

I blinked, realizing I had been squinting at the flower. I narrowed my eyes to protect them and looked at Aren, asking,

“Does it really suit me?”

“Yes, it suits you so well that you could wear it all day.”

It would be a bit awkward to attend classes with a flower in my hair, as people would definitely gossip behind my back. Even now, without doing anything, almost all the students avoid me. I couldn’t do anything to worsen my reputation further, so I awkwardly smiled and removed the flower from my ear. It was a red rose—red, fragrant, and with sharp thorns that made it hard to handle. Somehow, it didn’t seem to suit me.

“Aren, come closer.”

I gestured for Aren to come closer and asked him to lower his head a little. Since he was slightly taller than me, just a slight tilt made us at the same eye level. Looking at him like this, Aren’s eyes were truly beautiful. They really were like jewels. I wasn’t particularly attached to eyes, but looking into Aren’s eyes felt like I could get lost in them.

“There, all done!”

Looking into Aren’s eyes, I carefully placed the rose in my hand behind his ear. Aren, adorned with a red rose, looked even more beautiful than I imagined.

“Radel, what are you…?”

“It suits you more than me.”

I beamed at Aren, who was dazedly touching the rose I had placed. Surrounded by flowers and seeing how well Aren matched with them, I couldn’t help but smile cheerfully.

“You really are beautiful!”

Telling a man he’s beautiful isn’t usually something that would make them happy, but Aren’s appearance was more on the beautiful side than handsome. Without thinking, I blurted it out, then realized my slip and clamped my mouth shut.

‘Oh my, what did I just say?’

Calling a man beautiful—he’d surely be offended. Suddenly, Aren had become the pretty boy, and I imagined he’d be angry, saying, “How dare you judge me like that?” and using magic to erase my existence. I knew Aren was kind and wouldn’t kill me, but my cowardly instincts made me tremble with fear. Even if Aren didn’t hurt me, his opinion of me had probably fallen. I couldn’t bring myself to look up and kept my eyes focused downward.

“Radel.”

“Y-Yes!”

I answered energetically and looked up, only to be surprised by Aren’s unexpected smiling face. Was he not upset? I studied his face from different angles. He didn’t seem displeased. In fact, he looked happy.

“Thank you.”

“…What?”

I was suddenly thanked. Thinking I had misheard, I looked at Aren again and questioned him, and he kindly repeated himself.

“Thank you. It’s the first time I’ve been called beautiful.”

Aren genuinely seemed pleased, as he touched the flower by his ear and smiled bashfully. He was like a young girl. Ah, I need to be careful not to make such comments again by mistake. I don’t usually blurt out random things, but Aren’s unique atmosphere of making people comfortable keeps lowering my guard.

“Let’s not just stand here; why don’t we sit for a while? There’s a huge tree if we walk a bit further; shall we go there?”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Since we still had time, I followed Aren to the place with the giant tree. As we walked, I glanced at Aren. He seemed to enjoy the flower I gave him and kept it there. I wasn’t sure if he kept it because he genuinely liked it or because he thought I’d feel awkward if he took it out immediately, but Aren showed no signs of removing the flower.

“Hey, Aren. You can take the flower out now.”

“I’m fine with it like this.”

“I’m not okay with it; let’s take it out.”

Aren looked good with the flower, but I hurriedly removed the rose, fearing he’d keep it on all day. Aren then looked at the rose in my hand with a disappointed expression. Huh..?

“I’d like to keep that. Since Radel gave it to me.”

“O-okay.”

Aren carefully took the rose from me. It felt like we were getting much closer. Does this mean we’ve become friends? Are Aren and I friends now?

“Radel, we’re here.”

“Oh, already?”

While I was wondering whether Aren and I were mere acquaintances or friends, we arrived at the place with the giant tree. It was truly enormous, about half the height of the academy building, with straight branches that gave it a majestic appearance. As I admired the grandeur of the giant tree, I glanced at a sign next to it, which simply read “Giant Tree.” Oh, that’s really its name? Whoever named it lacked imagination. It matched the sense of the announcer I met at the tavern before.

“Wait, someone’s here.”

As we approached the giant tree, I tripped over something and looked down to see a familiar face.

“Kailon… Raven?”

Why is this guy lying here?

“Yeah, it’s Kailon Raven.”

We both crouched down to observe Kailon. He seemed to be asleep, but why was he sleeping here? He wasn’t someone who enjoyed sleeping rough, especially since he had more money than anyone but the royal family. I curiously looked at Kailon’s face.

“…What?”

“Whoa, you scared me!”

Kailon suddenly opened his eyes and sat up abruptly, causing my heart to nearly leap out of my chest. Aren also widened his eyes in surprise.

“You’re… Aren?”

“It’s been a while, Kailon.”

Kailon slowly blinked as he looked at Aren. While they didn’t have any ill feelings, they weren’t exactly close, so after exchanging a formal greeting, they didn’t say much else. After his brief conversation with Aren, Kailon yawned widely and slowly turned his head to look at me.

“You are…”

As Kailon’s mouth opened, I broke into a nervous sweat. He shouldn’t have seen my face, but I was anxious that he might recognize me from the tavern. Considering his personality, he tends to forget unnecessary details, right? I swallowed dryly and hoped for that. Kailon stared at me blankly for a moment before speaking slowly.

“…Who were you again?”

I had hoped he’d forget our meeting at the tavern, not my name entirely.

Kailon and the villainess Radel had crossed paths often. It would have been stranger if they hadn’t, given Radel’s harassment of Seria and Kailon being one of Seria’s “fish.” So, Kailon should know my name.

But now he’s asking who I am?

I knew Kailon wasn’t interested in others, but I never imagined it was to this extent. I couldn’t have predicted a male lead wouldn’t know the villainess’s name.

“…Do you really not know who Radel is?”

Aren also asked in disbelief. I was already at a loss for words, so I just silently stared at Kailon.

“Hmm…”

Kailon looked at me intently, lost in deep thought. Could he truly not know my name? No, more than that, his attitude suggested he didn’t even know who I was, which made me clench my fist in frustration.

“Oh.”

He let out a short sigh and said casually,

“I don’t know.”

This jerk.

I needed to make a good impression on Kailon, but regardless, my opinion of him was rapidly declining.